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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,093 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 13 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #103

Jun 162017

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving the car the radio panel, air conditioning, control panel and power steering goes out. When driving over 45 mph on the highway, the engine will not stop. However, when driving 45 mph or below on city streets, the car will shut completely off and I will have to restart the car. Everything goes complete off. This has been an ongoing issue for several months now. The car has had this issue while in traffic and I was hit from behind. Fortunately, we were pulling off from a stop light and the impact was not enough to cause an injury. I have researched on youtube and online and there are several other consumers with this exact same issue. Also, the check engine light never comes on but it does say service power steering and service stabili trak. Sometimes when the car is not moving (parked) it will also cut off. Once, I went to start the car and it would not start and it would not allow me to remove the key. I tried making sure the car was in park (which I knew it was because it had been parked for hours) but nothing would move. I almost had it towed and then out the blue everything popped on. Chevrolet advised that they "think" it could be the battery cables and the fuse box but cannot guarantee that this will fix the issue. I have already paid $167 for them to "tighten" the cables and tell me what they "think" may be the issue. I also have video of the car while having this issue but it is not in the format allowed for upload. The last time it had this issue was today 07/28/2017.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #102

Jul 172017

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
I was driving down my driveway and my radio was shutting off and on and then my vehicle would die and the key would lock up, I had to sit there for a minute before it would finally start back up.this has happened twice already. Luckily I was in my driveway when it happened

- Hindsville, AR, USA

problem #101

Jul 072017

Malibu

  • miles
Purchased this 2013 Malibu lt in August of 2016. After about a month, I started experiencing power failure and power steering loss while driving. On some occasions, the electrical issues and power failure is triggered by engaging the turn signal. Searched youtube and discovered that dozens of other 2013 Malibu owners are experiencing the exact same issue. The scary part of this issue is that the car stalls out completely without warning while driving at any given speed. And when this happens, the power steering goes out as well. This has happened about a dozen times since about a month after purchase August 2016; the last experience was on this past Friday, July 7, 2017.this is very dangerous as I have already experienced two near-miss accidents. I've read several posts of others who have spent money on diagnosis and repairs only to discover that the problem reoccurs. I don't have the money to waste on fruitless repairs as I'm still paying a note plus full coverage insurance on this vehicle. I don't know how many complaints that it will take for something to be done about this serious problem, but something needs to be done in a hurry.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #100

Jun 012017

Malibu

  • 47,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear shift assembly had to be replaced. $464 at paul masse Chevrolet in East providence ri. The indicator came on telling me to shift in park when it was already in park. Faulty manufacturing in the part.

- North Dighton, MA, USA

problem #99

May 142017

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While the vehicle was operated, the steering column seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to the long hammer auto dealer for the ignition switch. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, but a diagnosis was not determined. The contact stated that the failure occurred approximately eight times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Pontiac, MI, USA

problem #98

Jan 012016

Malibu

  • miles
Sometimes when I start my car the air conditioner come on by it's self, while the knob is set on off.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #97

May 242017

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Service parking brake......can not rest code repair shop...what do you do...the parking brake is fine...the light will not turn off amber color.... help tsb with no solutions....I would like this fixed also come one after ABS whas reset with wheel bearing code/replaced

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #96

May 302017

Malibu

  • 58,812 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While stationary, the interior lighting system malfunctioned. The contact stated that the lights remained illuminated after the vehicle was locked. In addition, while driving 35 mph, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. Furthermore, the battery lost power on more than one occasion, which caused the vehicle not to start. Hendricks Chevrolet of North Carolina diagnosed that the generator in the vehicle needed to be replaced. The repair was completed, but the dealer discovered that the generator control module was also faulty. In addition, the dealer stated that a repair was performed on the vehicle in 2012. The contact discovered product safety number: 12238, which provided coverage for the replacement of the generator; however, the manufacturer stated that it had expired. The failure mileage was 58,812.

- Hubbard, OH, USA

problem #95

May 162017

Malibu

  • 36,000 miles
The vehicle will not start. Everything is dead on the car, no power no interier lights, nothing. The dealer could not seem to find a problem. The car is out of warranty now and, it continues to have the problem.

- South Holland, IL, USA

problem #94

Mar 242017

Malibu

  • 89,000 miles
The generator control module (gcm) not function properly. Causing a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light. Battery has been replaced due to the malfunction of module that is causing loss of battery charge.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #93

Apr 232017

Malibu

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 13 Malibu ltz but as I'm driving the car completely shuts off and comes back on in the middle of me driving. I had it sent to a shop they diagnosed it but found nothing said the key was possibly a problem. I went to the dealership and got a new key so for a month or so the issue was fine. I started driving again and as I have my blinkers on I'm getting ready to turn and the car shuts off again.. I'm in 5pm traffic this is scary but as the car shut off the wheel lock it cuts right back on. I took it to the dealership and they said my battery since it wasn't changed in awhile so I have the battery replaced. The car was fine now two months later it did it all over again.. I'm getting ready to turn and again everything shuts off in the middle of driving then cuts back on. I'm very frustrated I pay a car note and insurance and I don't have money to get this problem fixed.. there are soooo many complaints I just wish it would be recalled and fixed. It's very dangerous when this car shuts off in the middle of driving when there are other cars around. I'm scared to drive it but it's my only car and I'm paying notes on it. If I had the money to trade it in I would!! this all happened on a city street when there's cars and traffic.. sometimes it happens when I'm driving but mostly every time when I'm turning. Everything shuts off the whole car it's scary.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #92

Mar 232017

Malibu

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle stalled. The battery and power assist warning lights illuminated. In order to start the vehicle a jump start was required. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam positioning sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer's for more diagnosis. The failure mileage was about 106,000.

- Meadville, MS, USA

problem #91

Jan 012015

Malibu

  • miles
Since 2015 car has experienced engine speed problems, wiring issues and every 5-6 months the car is in a Chevy dealership, they say its fixed but then its back in the shop

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #90

Mar 062017

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that various warning indicators flashed on the instrument panel, including the air bag warning indicator. The dealer indicated that the vehicle would need to be diagnosed and there was no air bag recall to address the repair. The dealer replaced the battery, but the air bag, traction control, and check engine indicators randomly flashed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was waiting on the diagnostic results. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

problem #89

Apr 212015

Malibu

  • 32,600 miles
Car bought from the dealership as used with 28K miles in Nov 2014. In March 2015, the steering wheel started to lock while turning. Meanwhile, the screen and the radio restarts. The locking of the steering wheel happens under different circumstances, including but not limit to when parking, cruising on the neighbourhood (speed below 30 mph), change lanes in highways (speed around 50 mph), and several times while the car was actually parked without motion. The car was brought to the dealership in April 2015 for the first time. In the following two years until last week (March 2017), the dealership replied "could not duplicate the issue" every single time. In the recent several times of me visiting the dealership about the same issue, they replaced the battery cables (with a charge for $750), and the fuse box (with a charge of $108), but still, the problem exists. The last visit to the dealer ends up with the routine reply of "can not duplicate" but they did admit that there is indeed an issue since I showed them a video I recorded when the issue happens. The locking of the steering wheel happens every single time when I tried to rotate the steering wheel (to make turning while driving or parking of course), but the issue is that it does not always happen. It only happens every now and then. That is why I am still driving it after two years since unfortunately, that is my only car. This is extremely dangerous since the locking of the steering wheel only locks while turning. It can cause accidents in the neighbourhood and a lethal accident on the highways. The GM offered me a coupon for some credit to be applied to my next purchase of a new GM car but I don't think that is a solution I can accept. I am attaching some of the service histories to support my statement. There are more but I can only upload 5.

- Nesconset, NY, USA

problem #88

Mar 282017

Malibu

  • 97,000 miles
This will be second time ocurring within two months..while driving panel lights up radio turns on for a few minutes then airbag light remains on when everythign else turned off.. took to dealership to repair and they stated it was the airbag module..replaced it and a month later same thing happened... back at dealership today

- Spring Grove, VA, USA

problem #87

Feb 242017

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
While driving and going to change lanes, I turn on my turn signal to change lanes and the power steering stops working, the dash gauges flicker and the radio cuts out and sometimes the motor cuts off. This also occurs when sitting still, the steering wheel will bounce if turning one direction or the other. I have seen many of these complaints online and no resolution. This also happens while turning. This happens every day.

- Genoa, OH, USA

problem #86

Feb 142017

Malibu

  • 85,200 miles
Turning left into my driveway, (luckily not going very fast) the power steering goes out several times in a row and then the screen prompted to "service power steering". checked fluid level and it was fine. Read that there are a lot of others with this same problem. My children could get hurt! and I paid too much money for this car to be unable to drive it and feel good about it! smh!!

- Valley, AL, USA

problem #85

Oct 032016

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the electrical system shorted several times. The dealer was unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. In addition, various warning indicators flashed on the instrument panel. The dealer indicated that the subwoofer was draining the power. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #84

Dec 272016

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
Used switch to roll down passenger window, touch screen went black, came back on maybe after 30 sec or so. While driving touch screen occ black out, all electronic go out, no turn signal, no digital speed, power steering. After fueling went to start car, it wouldn't start, no lights no power at all, did this three times in one day. I hadn't had car thirty days.

- Decatur, IL, USA

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